BBC finally apologises to Andrew Scott for creepy BAFTA interview

It was the interview that made viewers wince around the world but now almost a week on the BBC has finally apologised to Andrew Scott for what it calls its ‘misjudged’ question.

Oh how we cringed watching entertainment correspondent Colin Paterson badger the Irish actor who was out to celebrate the success of his film All Of Us Strangers at the BAFTAs, about Barry Keoghan’s penis and the now infamous dancing scene in Saltburn.

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The cringe red carpet interview started pleasant enough with the BBC reporter asking if he knew Barry well to which Andrew replied: ‘I know Barry yeah’ with a big smile on his face.

Andrew Scott attends the 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards at The Royal Festival Hall on February 18, 2024 in London, England. Pic: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images

What was your reaction when you first saw the naked dance scene at the end of Saltburn?’ Colin then asked.

When someone around him shouted out ‘no spoilers please!’ Andrew being a good sport mustered ‘ Ah Jesus’ and looked embarrassed before adding ‘Listen I won’t spoil it for anybody but it ‘s great, it’s great.’

He raised his hands awkwardly and looked flustered which should have been Paterson’s cue to move on but instead, he tried again insisting ‘You can spoil away.’

Andrew Scott interviewed by Colin Paterson of the BBC.

‘Yeah no I won’t spoil it for anybody,’ the at this stage embarrassed Andrew insisted which again should have been a heads-up to the reporter but still he doggedly ploughed on and became utterly inappropriate.

‘There was a lot of talk about prosthetics, how well do you know him?’

It was a this point that Andrew somehow managed to keep his cool and walked away from the reporter.

The problematic question appeared to infer that Barry and Andrew who is openly gay might know each other intimately, and caused uproar around the world.

Now after days of silence, the BBC has conceded that the question was ‘ misjudged’ and apologised if offence was caused but still stood by its reporter.

Its statement reads: ‘Our reporter began by asking Andrew Scott about the film he’d appeared in -All Of Us Strangers – which was nominated for six BAFTAs.

Pic: Barry Keoghan/Instagram

He then moved on to ask about the popularity of Irish actors where Barry Keoghan, star of Saltburn was mentioned. Saltburn is a film which has had cultural impact, with Barry Keoghan’s scene at the end gaining a lot of attention in particular – something the actor has addressed himself.

‘Our question to Andrew Scott was meant to be a light hearted reflection of the discussion around the scene and was not intended to cause offence. Saltburn writer and director, Emerald Fennell, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, whose song Murder on the Dancefloor was used in the sequence, were also asked about the scene.

We do however, accept that the specific question asked to Andrew Scott was misjudged. After speaking with Andrew on the carpet, our reporter acknowledged on air that his questioning may have gone too far and that he was sorry if this was the case.’

Barry Keoghan. Pic: The CW

It’s not the first time jokes about the scene have caused concern, ‘please thank your penis for its service’ Chelsea Handler quipped to Barry who was sitting in the audience at the Critic’s Choice Awards who looked uncomfortable.

Host Jo Koy also asked the actor at the Golden Globes: ‘Where is your penis seated? Down front? That was the real star of the show.’

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Andrew Scott interviewed by Colin Paterson of the BBC.

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